Pizza boxes, difficult to fit in typical trash cans, can now be disposed in specially designed trash cans in five parks citywide. NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced the installation of the new trash receptacles, custom-designed for the disposal of pizza boxes, on Aug. 30. Through the new initiative, visitors at parks throughout the city can dispose of their empty pizza boxes in these dedicated containers, rather than forcing the rectangular boxes into circular bins.

 

A total of six receptacles were installed in five parks throughout the city, in time for Labor Day weekend, as follows:

• Bronx: Loreto Playground
• Brooklyn: Saratoga Park
• Manhattan: Father Demo Square
• Queens: Sobelsohn Playground
• Staten Island: Jennifer’s Playground

 

By keeping pizza boxes separate from other trash, representatives from NYC Parks said they hope to reduce trash can overflow and keep city parks cleaner, as bulky pizza boxes sometimes cause blockages inside traditional trash cans. They said ensuring that empty pizza boxes and food waste are disposed of separately will also reduce the food sources available to rats, furthering New York City’s ongoing rat-mitigation efforts.

 

“Pizza Rat will find no quarter in city parks soon enough, thanks to these pizza-ready trash cans,” said Meera Joshi, deputy mayor for operations. “This is yet another creative way the Adams administration is improving quality of life for people, not pests.”

 

Meanwhile, Donoghue said, “Whether you’re relaxing after caring for your local garden, taking in a Movie Under the Stars, or just connecting with your neighbors, few things are more quintessentially New York than enjoying a slice of pizza in one of our public parks. We all know that you shouldn’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole, which is why we’re deploying special trash cans just for pizza boxes to parks throughout the five boroughs.

 

She added, “Now, pizza lovers throughout the city can help us keep our shared public spaces clean by disposing of their boxes in these special receptacles, fighting the scourge of rats and ensuring our greenspaces are litter-free.”

 

According to NYC Parks, the new trash bins pay homage to the classic red-and-white checkered tablecloths of New York pizza joints. Designed in-house by NYC Parks, the trash bins catch New Yorkers’ attention and remind them to make sure their pizza boxes are empty before disposal.

 

NYC Parks officials said keeping New York City’s public parks clean and safe is one of the key priorities of the department’s “Vital Parks for All” framework, described as a bold plan for investing in a shared living infrastructure and “empowering New Yorkers to enjoy and care for our public spaces.” They added, “Greenspaces that are well-maintained and free of litter inspire civic pride, deter crime, and encourage New Yorkers to connect with their neighbors and the great outdoors.”

 

If successful, it is hoped the plan may be expanded to more areas.